So here I am, one week away from coming home. I still distinctly remember the first day at The Crossing, silently tip-toeing my way around the house trying to escape from all the strangers who were all way louder and rambunctious. They still tell me they noticed the horror on my face the first few days of school. I hardly said a word. But it didn't take long to feel part of the group, everyone was awesome... they're still all awesome.
And now it's time to leave them all. For the past two weeks I've been extremely excited to go home, but today I woke up and felt all my organs tightening inside my body, and my stomach was squeezing out of my mouth.
The last semester of school (6 weeks) has been great. The lecture lineup was as perfect as could be, and I learned a lot. Outside of class; JB, Joel and I started a football league to celebrate autumn and tomorrow is the championship game. Everyone has their advantages. JB is the big, tall guy with long reach. Joel is the super sturdy, hard-running player, and I'm the speedy guy who usually comes last out of us three, but I hold my own, I always make it really close.
Tomorrow will be my last time attending the Geraldine church. I've finished up my ministries in Kids Alive and Timaru Youth Group with a bang. Both groups of kids said they learned a lot from the Capernwray guys, so that's cool. This last week of school will be debrief sessions and lots of cleaning. We've finished up all of our book reports and random papers and so now we'll just focus on making sure we avoid Post Capernwray Blues as much as possible.
21.5.10
3.5.10
God is in a constant state of perpetual enthusiasm!
Here are some of my scatterbrained notes/one-liners from my two weeks of classes with Jerry Benjamin who taught on Daniel and Revelation.
---
The unsurrendered Christian life is the unsatisfied Christian life. This is one thing that's a constant struggle for me. Why do I feel an emptiness, lack of satisfaction or a need? It's because I'm not surrendering everything I am and everything I have to God.
Scripture is given to reveal Jesus Christ, nothing else.
All things must be fulfilled - revealing Jesus Christ.
Purpose of prophecy: To reveal Jesus Christ, not for events.
"To die is gain" - because the safest place to be is in the presence of God.
Being in the will of God on earth is the safest place to be. (You're safer dodging bullets in Afghanistan than doing hoolahoops on the beach if God's will for you is to be in Afghanistan.)
The problem is we don't believe Jesus Christ is all we need. Only when He's all we have do we belive He's all we need.
Obedience brings blessing. Israel had faith passover would work. God not obligated to physically bless us... perhaps only spiritually.
If we're disobedient... He will discipline us (NIV: "curse") to correct us and bring us to a right place.
Christ doesn't give wisdom, He is wisdom. All of our true wisdom comes from him.
What becomes a characteristic of Jesus Christ becomes a characteristic of me when I die to self.
Obey God regardless of the circumstance or culture. No compromising: "Well if I do this the king will like me more and give me a position of power and then I could start prayer meetings and Bible studies." Always do what pleases the Father.
God gives man choice but it doesn't thwart His purpose = sovereignty of God.
Job cried out to God when in his trials... he asked question after question. When God spoke, He didn't answer any questions... He only asked more questions right back at him. And Job received revelations and repented.
Prayer is not only an act, it's an attitude. To have complete dependence on Him. Pray without ceasing = Always depend on Him, in all circumstances. Everything must be done in Him or it has no eternal value.
Sheep are the most dependent animal in the world. They NEED the shepherd to direct them to food and water and to the right gate or they will be lost or hungry. We need to recognize our helplessness and have confidence in whom we are joined to... CHRIST!
Every need is met in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ + nothing = everything.
Nothing on earth will ever completely satisfy... there will always be emptiness without Christ.
God is looking for broken vessels, willing to point others to Him for no other reason but for those to know him, and not for self-pride, gain.
The purpose of revelation is for transformation, not for information.
As long as God is glorified, it doesn't matter whether we live or die. Shadrach, Mesach and Abendego realize this... they are willing to go into the fiery furnace because they followed Christ's ways and the situation they were put in was a result of their faithfulness. They had the knowledge of God that He can do it, (save them from dying in the fire) they just don't know if He will. The only issue was: How can God be more glorified? They had faith that God's plan was the best plan.
The battle is the Lord's. We must submit and surrender to God first.
When God takes us through painful trials (fiery furnaces), God is only purifying us of our sins - transforming us more to His image.
We are changed by Christ as much as we are willing to allow Him to change us. No personality trait hinders His ability to change us. We are our own worst enemy.
True worship: The complete surrendering, submission to God with all mind and heart.
We have commited our lives to Jesus Christ, but have we submitted to Him?
In a commitment - the person commiting still has authority to make the final decision.
In submission the person we are submitting to has all authority - God makes the final decision.
He came to transform us.
Does God have exclusive rights to EVERY aspect of my life?
Pride: The spirit of independence.
Humility: NO thought of oneself - humility only comes through submission.
Brokeness: No will of my own. The end of ourselves. (We were bought at a price.)
God sees every person as a pearl of great price. He will search for you forever and once He finds you, He will go and sell everything for you.
Why are we of so much value? Well, God made us! That's why we have value. No matter what condition we may be in, our value is in the Creator.
Our greatest liability in the Christian life is the strengths. We no longer put our dependence in God because we think we can do it ourselves.
Stand in battle by surrendering.
The victory is won when Jesus Christ conquers me.
Don't worry about bearing fruit - only God can do that.
Priorities of prayer:
1. Get me to live for the glory of God.
2. Motivated to love for Him.
3. To live under God's authority. (... in submission.)
4. Walk in the light. (Being transparent. Not self-analysing - He does the changing.)
5. Abide in Christ. (To His agenda.)
Think life is unfair?
The greatest unfairness in history was the death of Jesus Christ.
Jesus didn't come to judge man, He came to save us and transform us into true worshippers.
He didn't come to prove Himself. He could have stepped off the cross if He wanted to, but He hung on the cross quietly... He conquered the grave with quiet power.
He created us for relationship with us. He didn't need us.
The heart of the matter is always the matter of the heart.
Join to God for who He is, not for what He can do/give for/to us.
We are never the fulfillment of God's program. Christ always is. We don't go on missions trips because God needs us to be there to fix things - we should go only for the reason because we love Him - to do His will.
Your sins are submerged in the grace of God. God chooses to forget sins - He allows us to wake up every day as white as snow - pure, blameless.
Never give up on persuing a person to come to Christ. God will open doors if He chooses to, and it's your job to faithfully walk through them when they open. It is not our job to open doors. He will initiate.
Do we have eyes only for God?
---
The unsurrendered Christian life is the unsatisfied Christian life. This is one thing that's a constant struggle for me. Why do I feel an emptiness, lack of satisfaction or a need? It's because I'm not surrendering everything I am and everything I have to God.
Scripture is given to reveal Jesus Christ, nothing else.
All things must be fulfilled - revealing Jesus Christ.
Purpose of prophecy: To reveal Jesus Christ, not for events.
"To die is gain" - because the safest place to be is in the presence of God.
Being in the will of God on earth is the safest place to be. (You're safer dodging bullets in Afghanistan than doing hoolahoops on the beach if God's will for you is to be in Afghanistan.)
The problem is we don't believe Jesus Christ is all we need. Only when He's all we have do we belive He's all we need.
Obedience brings blessing. Israel had faith passover would work. God not obligated to physically bless us... perhaps only spiritually.
If we're disobedient... He will discipline us (NIV: "curse") to correct us and bring us to a right place.
Christ doesn't give wisdom, He is wisdom. All of our true wisdom comes from him.
What becomes a characteristic of Jesus Christ becomes a characteristic of me when I die to self.
Obey God regardless of the circumstance or culture. No compromising: "Well if I do this the king will like me more and give me a position of power and then I could start prayer meetings and Bible studies." Always do what pleases the Father.
God gives man choice but it doesn't thwart His purpose = sovereignty of God.
Job cried out to God when in his trials... he asked question after question. When God spoke, He didn't answer any questions... He only asked more questions right back at him. And Job received revelations and repented.
Prayer is not only an act, it's an attitude. To have complete dependence on Him. Pray without ceasing = Always depend on Him, in all circumstances. Everything must be done in Him or it has no eternal value.
Sheep are the most dependent animal in the world. They NEED the shepherd to direct them to food and water and to the right gate or they will be lost or hungry. We need to recognize our helplessness and have confidence in whom we are joined to... CHRIST!
Every need is met in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ + nothing = everything.
Nothing on earth will ever completely satisfy... there will always be emptiness without Christ.
God is looking for broken vessels, willing to point others to Him for no other reason but for those to know him, and not for self-pride, gain.
The purpose of revelation is for transformation, not for information.
As long as God is glorified, it doesn't matter whether we live or die. Shadrach, Mesach and Abendego realize this... they are willing to go into the fiery furnace because they followed Christ's ways and the situation they were put in was a result of their faithfulness. They had the knowledge of God that He can do it, (save them from dying in the fire) they just don't know if He will. The only issue was: How can God be more glorified? They had faith that God's plan was the best plan.
The battle is the Lord's. We must submit and surrender to God first.
When God takes us through painful trials (fiery furnaces), God is only purifying us of our sins - transforming us more to His image.
We are changed by Christ as much as we are willing to allow Him to change us. No personality trait hinders His ability to change us. We are our own worst enemy.
True worship: The complete surrendering, submission to God with all mind and heart.
We have commited our lives to Jesus Christ, but have we submitted to Him?
In a commitment - the person commiting still has authority to make the final decision.
In submission the person we are submitting to has all authority - God makes the final decision.
He came to transform us.
Does God have exclusive rights to EVERY aspect of my life?
Pride: The spirit of independence.
Humility: NO thought of oneself - humility only comes through submission.
Brokeness: No will of my own. The end of ourselves. (We were bought at a price.)
God sees every person as a pearl of great price. He will search for you forever and once He finds you, He will go and sell everything for you.
Why are we of so much value? Well, God made us! That's why we have value. No matter what condition we may be in, our value is in the Creator.
Our greatest liability in the Christian life is the strengths. We no longer put our dependence in God because we think we can do it ourselves.
Stand in battle by surrendering.
The victory is won when Jesus Christ conquers me.
Don't worry about bearing fruit - only God can do that.
Priorities of prayer:
1. Get me to live for the glory of God.
2. Motivated to love for Him.
3. To live under God's authority. (... in submission.)
4. Walk in the light. (Being transparent. Not self-analysing - He does the changing.)
5. Abide in Christ. (To His agenda.)
Think life is unfair?
The greatest unfairness in history was the death of Jesus Christ.
Jesus didn't come to judge man, He came to save us and transform us into true worshippers.
He didn't come to prove Himself. He could have stepped off the cross if He wanted to, but He hung on the cross quietly... He conquered the grave with quiet power.
He created us for relationship with us. He didn't need us.
The heart of the matter is always the matter of the heart.
Join to God for who He is, not for what He can do/give for/to us.
We are never the fulfillment of God's program. Christ always is. We don't go on missions trips because God needs us to be there to fix things - we should go only for the reason because we love Him - to do His will.
Your sins are submerged in the grace of God. God chooses to forget sins - He allows us to wake up every day as white as snow - pure, blameless.
Never give up on persuing a person to come to Christ. God will open doors if He chooses to, and it's your job to faithfully walk through them when they open. It is not our job to open doors. He will initiate.
Do we have eyes only for God?
1.5.10
I Will Put My Testimony Into You
Well it has been forever since I've made a proper blog post. My apologies. It's not like there hasn't been a lot of cool stuff going on, though. I guess I had a falling out. Anyways, I'll give you a quick fill in on what's going on the last month or so. The leaves are all turning red, orange, yellow and falling off the trees as winter is approaching. The sun goes down at 5:30pm and it feels like Christmas should be coming soon. The group is a lot quieter with Amber (the loudest person on earth) gone but it's been good. We miss them but no one is dying... except maybe Kelsey. I think she's missing Amber a lot. Easter break was awesome. I got to see a lot and laugh a lot. After spending 9 days on the south island I got a bit of a taste of the north island, spending a bit of time in Aukland and a bit in the Cormandel where myself and 9 others rented a beach house and did very little for 9 days. It was good to spend time with three (out of four) of the Adventure Bible School-ers before they left the group. I happened to be in Aukland for Record Store Day and so I was lucky enough to score a few sweet deals and at night I was able to go to a free gig (!!!) on the outskirts of Aukland with Robert. There were 7 bands playing that night and so it was cool to see what New Zealand indie bands were like... most of them sucked unfortunately, but the opening band was really good. They were called Artisan Guns and they were really quirky and fun-loving people. Robert and I actually talked with them after their show, they were nice people. A straight-forward indie rock band Clap Clap Riot was okay too but other than that the music was pretty weak and the groups were more into making noise and then drinking than anything else. Anyways, airports. Domestic flights in New Zealand are easiest things in the world. Now I.D. required. Check your bags, go through security, and you're on the plane. Takes five minutes. Really efficient.
So now I'm back to school. Two weeks of lectures with Jerry Benjamin (our first and only international lecturer this year... from Colorado Springs, USA) have come to a close and now we've got only four weeks left! I'm back in Room One with Joel B. (JB), Joel, and Bryan (with honourary member, Robert) and it's fun times. There have been a few lame pranks pulled this semester and a I've had a few "close encounters" with Joel. Sport of choice right now seems to be football.
This past week was super busy. Angela and I were planning everything for youth group one Wednesday at Timaru Life Church and I was also involved in a presentation for the Christian elementary school in Timaru (in which I was in a drama as a faithful friend and played a pirate searching for treasure in a sing-along action-song) which was for Thursday. There was a lot of stress on Angela and my part because after all the work we had put into the message for youth group we came to the conclusion we had about 30 minutes covered with stuff to do out of the hour and half we needed to fill. The night before Wednesday we prayed a bunch for our plans. Come Wednesday night 7:00pm, Angela and I were able to present a really cool message on Ephesians 1:15-20. Our goal was to make it as interactive as possible and really get the guys participating. At 8:25, as we were about to split off into small groups again to discuss, Hanna, our ministry co-ordinator who came to see how we'd do told us we should probably wrap it up shortly because it was five minutes until the end of youth group... Angela and I were obviously shocked. The one big thing we worried about coming into the day ended up being a non-issue. It was really cool to see God take the one thing that we thought was going to be a weak spot and totally take care of it and really bless us and our time at the youth group. We didn't even have time to do our "time-filling" game! So that was really cool.
On Saturday six of us went and climbed Mt. Peel. It was a gorgeous start to the day and we climbed up the steep mountain in three hours, crossing bush-y ridges and a few streams. On the way down we got rained on (Bryan was really hoping to hike in rain so he got his wish) and then we let ourselves go and flew (or ran as fast as possible) down the muddy steepness which was Mt. Peel. Of course there was quite a few slips and wipe outs. I was hiking in my Vans yet ironically I was the only one who didn't "eat it" yet I was close a few times.
I'll have more soon... with the most important stuff... what I've been learning!
So now I'm back to school. Two weeks of lectures with Jerry Benjamin (our first and only international lecturer this year... from Colorado Springs, USA) have come to a close and now we've got only four weeks left! I'm back in Room One with Joel B. (JB), Joel, and Bryan (with honourary member, Robert) and it's fun times. There have been a few lame pranks pulled this semester and a I've had a few "close encounters" with Joel. Sport of choice right now seems to be football.
This past week was super busy. Angela and I were planning everything for youth group one Wednesday at Timaru Life Church and I was also involved in a presentation for the Christian elementary school in Timaru (in which I was in a drama as a faithful friend and played a pirate searching for treasure in a sing-along action-song) which was for Thursday. There was a lot of stress on Angela and my part because after all the work we had put into the message for youth group we came to the conclusion we had about 30 minutes covered with stuff to do out of the hour and half we needed to fill. The night before Wednesday we prayed a bunch for our plans. Come Wednesday night 7:00pm, Angela and I were able to present a really cool message on Ephesians 1:15-20. Our goal was to make it as interactive as possible and really get the guys participating. At 8:25, as we were about to split off into small groups again to discuss, Hanna, our ministry co-ordinator who came to see how we'd do told us we should probably wrap it up shortly because it was five minutes until the end of youth group... Angela and I were obviously shocked. The one big thing we worried about coming into the day ended up being a non-issue. It was really cool to see God take the one thing that we thought was going to be a weak spot and totally take care of it and really bless us and our time at the youth group. We didn't even have time to do our "time-filling" game! So that was really cool.
On Saturday six of us went and climbed Mt. Peel. It was a gorgeous start to the day and we climbed up the steep mountain in three hours, crossing bush-y ridges and a few streams. On the way down we got rained on (Bryan was really hoping to hike in rain so he got his wish) and then we let ourselves go and flew (or ran as fast as possible) down the muddy steepness which was Mt. Peel. Of course there was quite a few slips and wipe outs. I was hiking in my Vans yet ironically I was the only one who didn't "eat it" yet I was close a few times.
I'll have more soon... with the most important stuff... what I've been learning!
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